Diesel and Water

We sent a patrol to Camp Marmal to pick up our chef J, who was returning from leave. The patrol also took the opportunity to pick up the 'Suomi-food' and other necessities from Camp Northern Lights, while they were in the area. I stayed at the safe house in Aybak, because I have, to be honest, had quite enough experience of sitting in an armoured car for hours when it's 40 degrees outside. Whenever I have the possibility to share some of that experience to others, I feel oblidged to do so. There were three groups of visitors to our gate today. The first one was from the municipality authority. They still wanted 2000 litres of diesel fuel for their garbage trucks, but that proposal was disapproved at the HQ yesterday. They were dissappointed but not discouraged, and soon turned to requesting 25 wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels and uniforms (with wellies and gloves) for their 25 cleaning workers. They promised to send me an email with the details, and I promised to write a project proposal. The second group was led by an Australian EOD-contractor from Kunduz. He picked up some items that had been left behind by his American colleague, and told shared some of their future plans. The spokesman for the third and last delegation of the day was the chief of Aybak prison. He had managed to spend the money that we donated to the prison to pay for drinking water for the prisoners in less than half the time that it was supposed to last. I feared that this would happen. Fortunately we had signed a contract, in which it was clearly stated the when the designated sum of money was spent, the water the deliveries would and and the contract was no longer valid. The chief of prison was clearly disappointed. He said that tomorrow the prisoners would have no water and told me to call to the Red Cross for help, but called them himself. After he had left, my interpreter said that the chief of prison most likely puts half of the water money in his own pocket. I said that I was well aware of that, but that there isn't much that we can do about it.


Isaf came to say hello, although it was too hot to do anything, really. She must have meen trying to cool herself in the ditch, because her paws were especially muddy today.